Mainland stocks close well off earlier lows

China's stock market fell but ended well off its lows yesterday, as hopes for government support helped banks and property shares rebound from a sharp early slide.

The Shanghai Composite Index, which had dropped as much as 4.64 percent in the morning, closed down 0.73 percent at 2157.839 points. On Monday, it tumbled 5.23 percent.

Falling Shanghai stocks outnumbered gainers by 504 to 388, while turnover in Shanghai A shares was a moderate 47.0 billion yuan against Monday's 47.2 billion yuan.